Hyderabad: State Minister for Irrigation, Food, and Civil Supplies, N Uttam Kumar Reddy, has contacted Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav. He requested that the ministry reject the proposal for Terms of Reference (ToR) that Andhra Pradesh seeks for the modified Polavaram Irrigation Project (PIP).
The minister argued that Andhra Pradesh consistently violates environmental clearances and tribunal decisions, which harm riparian interests and lack legal support.
On Monday, Uttam Kumar Reddy explained that Andhra Pradesh made significant changes in the Krishna and Godavari basins, expanding various PIP components without proper approval. These actions contradict permissions from the Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal Award (GWDTA) and the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC).
He mentioned that the Polavaram project initially received Environmental Clearance from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF) on October 25, 2005. However, Andhra Pradesh later altered the project significantly without new clearance, leading to a ‘Stop Work Order’ on February 8, 2011. This order, though, was put on hold and extended, allowing work to continue despite concerns from Telangana, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh. The latest extension is valid until July 2, 2026.
The Minister highlighted that despite the Polavaram project’s “National Project” status, it only receives funds for components approved under the original scope. Nevertheless, Andhra Pradesh has made major infrastructural changes.
Uttam Kumar Reddy cited a Supreme Court order from September 6, 2022, indicating the need for more technical reports due to the project’s expansion and the necessity to address environmental clearances. The Court recommended that the Minister of Jal Shakti and MoEF&CC bring all parties together to resolve these issues.
The Minister warned that Andhra Pradesh has exceeded the approved project parameters. For example, the water channel from the Polavaram Right Main Canal (PIPRMC) is now designed for 40,000 cusecs, doubling the original design of 20,000 cusecs. Twin tunnels with a discharge capacity of 20,000 cusecs each are being constructed, and necessary infrastructure at the headworks is already in place.
He firmly urged the ministry to dismiss Andhra Pradesh’s project proposal in the upcoming Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) meeting. “Considering all the facts, especially for justice, it is requested that this project proposal not be appraised and the ToR be rejected outright in the upcoming EAC meeting,” he concluded.
